Pneumatic swab



N. H. RICKER PNEUMATIC SWAB Dec. 15, 1931.

Original Filed on. 14, 1930 a n A m m M m VUH if We i m fl lllilil 'illllf'llllll NOPQI KQN H. INVENTOR mm ,1 TTORNEY Patented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NORMAN H. RICKER, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO HUGHES TOOI. COMPANY, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, A CORPORATION OF TEXAS PNEUMATIC SWAB Substitute for abandoned application Serial No. 488,565, filed October 14, 1930. This application filed May 21, 1931.

p The invention relates to standing valves employed in controlling the admission of liquid to the eduction tube of pneumatic swabs employed in raising liquid from deep wells.

It is an object of the invention to provide a standing valve in which the valve member may move to allow inlet of liquideven when the plunger'is seated at the lower end of its stroke. I

It is a further object to provide a valve structure which is bodily movable so that it can be extracted from the well but in which the complete structure may maintain its position while the fluid is entering the well.

This case is a substitute for abandoned application #488,565, filed Oct. 14, 1930.

In the drawings herewith, Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section through the swabbing device showing the upper end thereof.

Fig. 2 is a similar View of the lower end of the device showing my invention employed therewith.

My invention is illustrated as employed with a pneumatic swab of the general nature of that shown in my prior application filed October 14th, 1929, Serial No. 399,654. The well has an outer casing 1, the upper end of which is equipped with a special casing head 2, with a lateral liquid outlet 3 thereon.

Said casing head has a coupling 4 at its upper end by means of which it is connected with an elongated bull plug or housing 5 closing the upper end of the casing. Said casing head has an inner shoulder 6 to support the head 7 of the eduction tube. A pressure fluid inlet 8 connects through the casing head and the head 7 of the eduction tube with the space 9 between the eduction tube a 10 and a larger concentric pipe 11.

The pipe 11 conducts the pressure fluid to the lower end of the eduction tube. It is connected by a coupling 12 to a housing or shoe 13. Said shoe is closed at its lower end except for an inlet opening 14 for the liquid to be pumped.

The eduction tube has a valve chamber 15 at its lower end which fits closely within the shoe 13, except for a passage 16 longitudinally thereof leading from the upper end downwardly to an opening 17 for the air Serial No. 539,015.

or other pressure fluid to the interior of the chamber. There is also a bypass 18 formed in the wall of the chamber 15 leading from the interior below the valve cage 19 to the interior above the cage.

The valve cage 19 is cylindrical and has a close frictional fit in the lower end of the eduction tube. It has a lower chamber 20 therein which has a lower opening 21 for the liquid, said opening being normally closed by the ball valve 22. At the side of the chamber 20 is an outlet port 23 connecting with the by-pass 18. The upper part of the cage has a chamber 2A connecting with the air P011317 and having a seat at its upper end to receive the plunger 25. The plunger 25 is cylindrical on its outer surface to lit the eduction tube. Its lower end is reduced in diameter and roundedto 1% its seat in the valve cage. There is a downwardly converging passage through the plunger terminating in a seat 26 forthe valve 27. Below the valve seat 26 are lateral openings 28 to allow inlet of liquid to the eduction tube above the plunger.

In the operation of the device, the plunger seats by gravity upon the valve cage, as shown. Pressure fluid entering through the inlet 17 below the plunger will raise it with its load of liquid to the surface. The liquid will issue through openings 80in the eduction tube to the outlet 3 to storage. The plunger will raise above the openings 30 and will be stopped by the fluid compressed in the nipple 31. The valve 27 will be forced open and the plunger will fall, following the exhaust of fluid pressure after the liquid is blown out. The valve 22 will be seated dur ing the lifting of the plunger and its load, but when the pressure fluid exhausts the valve will open and liquid will enter to seek the level in the eduction tube which it has, due to submergence of the pipe in the liquid in the well.

The liquid entering the valve chamber 20 will follow the bypass 18 and past the open valve 27 to the interior of the eduction tube above the plunger. By the time the plunger has fallen-to its seat a considerable head of liquid will fill the lower end of the eduction tube, thus cushioning the shock of the fall. The plunger will settle to its seat, and when the gaseous fluid has accumulated suificiently to raise the load, the valve 27 will be forced to closed position and the plunger again lifted.

By the use of my device, the valve 22 will close the pipe 11 and the eduction tube when the load is being lifted. There will be no back pressure upon the liquid entering the well. The full effect of the pressure fluid is exerted upon the load being lifted. The valve cage is stationary in the operation of the swab, and the incoming liquid has only to overcome the weight of the ball 22. Hence a load of liquid will accumulate above the plunger at each stroke, which will be only slightly less than the head of liquid outside the pipe. A more eiflcient operation of the device is thus obtained. The cage may be removed by the use of a fishing tool engaging within the upper end of the cage as will be obvious.

WVhat I claim as new is:

1. A pneumatic swab, including an eduction tube, a plunger therein, having a valve controlled fluid passage therethrough and movable from the lower end thereof to the discharge end, a valve cage at the lower end of said tube, a valve closing an opening in the lower end of said cage, and a by-pass from said opening to the eduction tube above said cage, and below said plunger.

2. A pneumatic swab, including an eduction tube, a plunger therein having a valve controlled fluid passage therethrough, and movable from the lower end thereof to the discharge end, a valve cage at the lower end of said tube, a seat in said cage for said plunger, a valve closing an opening in the lower end of said cage, and a by-pass from said opening to the eduction tube above said ca e.

2%. A pneumatic swab, including an eduction tube, a plunger therein, having a valve controlled fluid passage therethrou h and movable from the lower end thereof to the discharge end, a valve cage at the lower end of said tube, a seat in said cage for said plunger,a valve closing an opening in the lower end of said cage, and a by-pass from said opening to the eduction tube above said cage, and means to admit pressure fluid through said cage below said plunger.

4. In a pneumatic swab, an eduction tube, a swab plunger therein, having a valve controlled fluid passage therethrough and movable from the lower end thereof to the discharge end, a valve cage below said plunger, a valve chamber in the lower end of said cage, a valve controlling the inlet of liquid to said chamber, a by-pass from said chamber past said cage to a point below said plunger, and means to introduce pressure fluid below said plunger.

5. In a pneumatic swab, an eduction tube, a swab plunger therein, having a valve controlled fluid passage therethrough and movable from the lower end thereof to the discharge end, a valve cage below said plunger, a valve chamber in the lower end of said cage, a valve controlling the inlet of liquid to said chamber, a by-pass from said chamber past said cage, to said plunger, a seat for said plunger on said cage, and means to conduct pressure fluid to the under side of said plunger.

6. In a pneumatic swab, an eduction tube, a plunger freely movable therein, afoot valve cage below said plunger, a seat in said cage for said plunger, and a valve controlling the passage of liquid past said cage and to a passage through said plunger operable while said plunger is in said seat.

7. In a pneumatic swab, an eduction tube, an outer concentric pipe for pressure fluid, a foot valve casing held frictionally against movement in said tube, a valve therein, a plunger above said foot valve, and a support on said foot valve for said plunger.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto alfix my signature this the 18th day of May, A. D. 1931.

NORMAN H. RICKER. 

